Electron tube device



Oct. 19, 1937. w, S'QLLER 2,096,653

ELECTRON TUBE DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1933. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I AC. ll/Vf Oct. 19, 1937. w S L 2,096,653

ELECTRON TUBE DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 allllll llwf 70 Away;

W. SOLLER ELECTRON 'r'uan DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 :llll

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7 Oct. 19, 1937'. w. SOLLER 2,096,653

ELECTRON TUBE mavxcs Filed Sept. 25, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZFJEEE 2 \r '36 \r a7 67 INVENTOR.

BY j c ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRON TUBE DEVICE Walter Seller, Tucson, Aria.

of onehalf to William 11. Woodin, Ark. Application September 25, 193:, Serial No. 090,901

I g Claims. (c1. zso-zu) My invention relates broadly to electron tube tube of my invention taken on line systems and more particularly to an electron tube system employing a controllable electron beam.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electron tube system operative to increase the amplitude of electrical currents in extremely large ratios.

Another object of my invention is to devise an electron tube having a number of elements combined in an improved plate assembly.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical control circuit in which a shaped beam of electrons is angularly deflected over a prearranged plate assembly connected in different electrical circuits and in which the plate assembly comprises elements, the eilective plane areas of which are varied with respect to each other for efiecting a division in output current in circuits electrically connected with the elements of the plate assembly.

A still iurther object of my invention is to provide an electronic discharge device including a plate assembly formed by a multiplicity of target elements which are preformed with respect to each other, so that the eifective plane area of one element decreases while the efiective plane area of an adjacent element increases whereby a division in output current is efifected by sweeping of the plate assembly by an electron beam. Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for deflecting the path of an electron beam in an electronic discharge device above or below a central axis in accordance with the character of the input control current.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved electronic control system wherein improved magnetic means are employed for controlling the angular movement of an electronic beam over a preformed plate assembly. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved electronic control system wherein improved electrostatic means are employed for controlling the angular movement of an electronic beam over a preformed plate assembly.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the electron tube structures and circuit arrangements described in the specification hereinafter following, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a schematic diagram of the tube structure of my invention and the balanced electrical circuit connected therewith; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the electron stream deflection type tube on line 2-2 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view o f the 3-4 of Fig. 2, showing in elevational view the plate assembly; Fig. 4 illustrates the flange and core assembly employed with the coil shown in Fig. 6, showing the means of mounting the magnetic control means on opposite sides of the tube when a magneticcore structure is used; Fig. 5 shows one form of the formative anode having a rectangular aperture therein which serves to form the electron beam in the tube structure of my invention; Fig. 6 shows the coil used in the magnetic control means; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary diagram oi a modification of the tube structure of Fig. 1, and a modified circuit employing the tube; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the modified plate asembly of the tube shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration oi the electrostatic control means used in lieu of the magnetic' control system; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the disposition of an element of the electrostatic means illustrated in Fig. 9 with respect to the electron beam; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on line lI-il of Fig. 12 of the tube of my invention and a diagrammatic showing of a further modification of the tube structure of Fig. 1 and a circuit employing the tube in the precision measurement of very small voltages; Flg. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the tube shown in Fig. 11 with the magnetic control device shown in side elevation; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the modified plate assembly of Figs. 11 and 12; Fig. 14 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a modified arrangement for an amplifier tube embodying my invention employing regenerative amplification; Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line i5-l5 of Fig. 14 and showing the arrangement of regenerative circuit schematically shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a view illustrating the plate assembly employed in the construction of tubes illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15; Fig. 17 illustrates a modified form oi. plate employed in the regenerative tube arrangement of Figs. 14 and 15; Fig. 18 shows a modified form of electron stream deflection type of tube embodying my invention and in which the angular movement of the electron beam is controlled by a grid anode structure; Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the electron stream deflection type of tube of my invention applied to an oscillator system; Fig. 20 is a cross sectional view taken. through the tube of Fig. 18 on line 20-20 thereof and illustrating the assembly of the plate electrodes; Fig. 21 shows a further modified form of electron stream deflection type tube which employs a vapor or gas Referring to the drawings in detail, Figs. 1

and 2 illustrate the electron tube of my invention comprising an envelope shown at i, of suitable material, preferably of glass and exhausted to a 1 high degree of vacuumv or filled with a gas or vapor of a composition generally employed in the art; a cathode element at 2, with heating means shown as a filament at 3, and source of potential at 6; a formative anode shown at 5, acting to pass a beam of electrons indicated at l E of rectangular cross section in an essentially central line with respect to the plate assembly shown at 8; and magnetic control elements at l and 7' shown externally of the envelope 8 The plate assembly shown at 8 comprises four separate elements disposed as shown in Fig. 3. Two of the elements, shown at 9 and "I, are in the form of right triangles and are mounted to form a rectangle along the diagonal of which is a gap bounded by each hypotenuse as shown at ii. That is to say, the effective plane area of element 9 decreases while the effective plane area of element ill increases in one direction, and the efiective plane area of element l0 decreases while the eflective'plane area of element 9 increases in the opposite direction. Adjacent the ends of the rectangle thus formed and separated slightly,

therefrom, are the other two elements of the plate assembly, shown at E4 and I5, which are rectangular in shape. Elements numbered l4 and i5 are connected respectively to elements numbered 9 and ill of the plate assembly, that is, the rectangular plate on one end is connected to the triangular plate whose adjacent portion is the apex of the triangle and not the base. This cross connection serves to equalize the electrostatic field that arises when one set of plates becomes of higher potential than the other.

The formative anode shown in perspective in Fig. 5 has a rectangular channel member shown at 5 projectingv at 90 from the main plate structure at 5, which plate structure serves to shield the far end of the tube from all electrons emitted from the cathode at 2 except those electrons guided through the channel at 6.

Fig. 6 shows the coil employed in the magnetic control feature of my invention. The winding at 21 is supported by the circular form 28 having an opening at 29 of sufiicient diameter to receive the core element shown at 30 of Fig. 4. The flange, shown at 3| in Fig. 4 on the core is shaped to produce a magnetic field of uniform intensity and of such shape as to embrace efllciently the electron beam. In Fig. 4 the magnetic yoke 22 is shown embracing the tube l and provided with removable pole tips 33 over which the cores 30 of the magnetic control elements are mounted. The coils are of impedances congruent with the expected input and may be selectively varied in number and electrical values. To facilitate this interchangeability of coils, the core pieces may be permanently attached to the exterior of the tube in position to control the electron beam, and selected coils interchangeably mounted thereon. The return magnetic circuit through yoke 22 insures maximum efiectiveness of the magnetic control means.

which is of triangular shape. The same theory I as related with respect to Fig. 1 applies in this tube also except in the fact that the electron beam it falls on only one plate, and as the beam is bent above or below normal, more or less electrons-fall on the plate and the current increases or decreases in the plate circuit in which is disposed an impedance or transformer device at 35, and a source of potential indicated as a battery at 2B, in series to the cathode. As the current increases, the potential drop across the element 35 increases and as the current decreases, the potential drop decreases. The output therefore, is

. taken from the terminals of the element at 35.

Fig. 9 illustrates the electrostatic control means which may be employed in the tubes of my invention in cases where current sufiicientto produce a magnetic field is lacking. The rectangular metal plates shown at 36 and 37! which constitute the electrostatic control means are supported within the tube envelope i in close proximity to the electronbeam. The input is connected directly to the two elements of the electrostatic control means. The rest of the circuit is similar to that described in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a theoretical view showing the manner in which the plate elements of the electrostatic control means, one of which is shown at 36a, embrace the electron stream, shown at H.

Figs. 11-13 illustrate a tube of my invention with modified plate assembly applied to the measurement of minute electric voltages. Three sets of coils numbered 4! and 4|, 42 and 42, 43 and 43', are employed and are supported on the cores at 30 and 30', disposed on the removable pole tips 33 of the magnetic yoke 22. Coils at 4|, 62 and 43 are disposed above the electron beam shown at H and coordinating coils at 4|, 42' and.43' below the electron beam. The plate assembly comprises two elements of rectangular shape as shown at 46 and 41 in the planview of the assembly in Fig. 13. The elements are supported adjacent to each other with a slight separation shown at 44, substantially central to the tube structure so that in normal position the beam of electrons will fall approximately equally on each element.

I have illustrated in Figs. 14-17, an electron deflection amplifying tube adaptable to a system embodying the principle of regeneration. In this arrangement the plate assembly is modified to provide separate capacity areas indicated at 53 and 54 of diiierent effective areas. A gap 540. is arranged on the central axis of the tube passing through the slot 6 in the formative anode 5. The elements 53 and 54 of the plate assembly are rectangular with the longitudinal axis of element 54 exceeding in length the corresponding axis of the element 53. Pairs of magnetically disposed control coils are mounted on opposite .sides of the envelope i as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 15. One coacting set of control coils is shown at 55.

These coils are connected in parallel and conoutput terminals for the regenerative deflection control tube are shown at 61. The cathode construction and the formative anode are similar to the arrangement heretofore described. The other branch of the output circuit is completed through conductor II from element 53 to a point on the source of potential 2| adapted to supply the proper operating voltageto the element 53.

With no input voltage on the input circuit 56, the larger amount of electrons are directed against the plate element 53. When a voltage is applied to the input circuit, the sets of control coils I5 magnetically act upon the electron stream which passes through slot 6 in formative anode I, deflecting the. electron stream and causing more electrons to bombard plate element 54., This operation in turn causes more current to flow through regeneration coils 5'! which cause still further deflection, thus producing a continued regeneration. I may also employ field neutralizing plates, as required. In lieu of the magnetic regeneration, I may employ electrostatic regeneration by utilizing the arrangement of plates 36, 36a, 31 and 31a connected, as shown in Fig. 22. The electrostatic regeneration can be used with electromagnetic control and electromagnetic regeneration can be used with electrostatic control. The input to the tube system when electrostatic control is employed connects to plates 36 and 31, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The regenerative control is connected to capacitative areas 36a and 3141 as shown in Fig. 22.

I may employ triangular shaped plates 59 and GI, as illustrated in Fig. 17 separated by a gap ii. The fact that the eflective area of plate 59 decreases as the area of plate 6. increases, produces the required distribution of current through the electron stream necessary to secure high efliciency regeneration control.

In the magnetic control system, I have shown the control coils mounted upon a magnetic core but I do not desire to have my invention limited to the use of magnetic cores as I may provide'the 'control coils with air cores thereby enabling the coils to readily function at high frequencies. The

control coils of each pair may be connected in series or parallel according to individual circuit requirements. The structure of the tube of my invention is such that the tube may function under control of currents of relatively large amplitude and the tube is not limited for operation under control of feeble currents. It is also advantageous in some forms of my invention to employ a control grid in lieu of the formative anode. Such a control grid may control the electron stream more efllciently than is the case with the formative anode.

The application of the tubes of my invention to the measurement of very small voltages such as are generated in the thermocouple devices for measuring temperatures, amount of radiation, and the like, is but one of the powble uses: Employed as amplifiers in line wire, radio, or public address systems,'the tubes of my invention are adaptable for response to high or low frequency alternating, or pulsating or steady direct currents, by the use of either the electrostatic or magnetic control means,,as set forth in the foregoing specification.

Fig. 18 illustrates a modified form of the deflection type tube of my invention in which a grid anode structure 68 is employed in lieu of the formative anode 5. The other parts of the tube system are similar to those heretofore described.

I have shown the regenerative circuit arrangement wherein coil 51 on one side of the tube I may be connected in parallel with the opposite coil II on the other side of the tube l. The anode assembly has been shown especially in Fig. 20 as including electrodes 46 and 41 of substantially equal area but any of the assemblies shown herein may be employed. In lieu of the electromagnetic control the electrostatic control employing capacity areas 36, a, 31 and 31a. may be employed and capacity areas "a and 31a electrically connected between one of the output terminals at the end of resistance 35 and a point on the source 2. as shown in Fig. 23.

I may employ the electron stream deflection type of tube system in an oscillator circuit as shown more clearly in Fig. 19. In this arrangement the magnetic control coils 51 and the condenser form the oscillating circuit. The coils are wound so that the magnetic field is approximately in phase with the primary current through transformer 10. The transformer includes a pair of primary windings Ti and I2 and a pair of secondary windings i3 and II. The secondary winding 14 connects with the oscillation circuit constituted by magnetic control coils 51 and condenser 69. The primary winding II connects at one end with plate electrode Ii. The primary winding 12 connects at one end with plate electrode 41. The primary windings are interconnected through a tap I! which connects with the positive terminal of potential source II. The primary current is zero when equal amounts of electrons fall on the plates 46 and 41. As the electron stream II is deflected up, current goes in one direction through the transformer and as the electron stream ii is deflected down current goes in the opposite direction through the transformer producing alternating current. For high frequencies iron cores are not necessary and iron in the magnetic control circuit may be eliminated. The oscillations are delivered at the terminals of\ output winding 13. By adjusting the constants of the circuit the frequency of the oscillations may be controlled. A plate anode assembly of the type shown in Fig. 20 is preferably employed in the tubes illustrated in Figs. 19 and 21 as well as in that shown in Fig. 18.

My invention is also applicable to vapor or gas tubes as illustrated in Fig. 21 wherein cathode I6 coacts with plates 46 and 41 in, producing a discharge in a beam indicated at l I, which beam is controlled by the magnetic coils 51 connected in an arrangement of transformer circuit similar to that described in Fig. 19. Direct current is supplied at terminals l1 and is converted into alternating current by oscillations produced in the circuits connected with the tube. Alternating current is delivered at the terminals of the output winding 13.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention reference is made to my copending applications Serial No. 736,592, filed July 23, 1934, for System for testing or measuring potentials, and my application 736,750, filed July 24, 1934, for Amplifying relay system, which are divisions of the instant application, and my application Serial No. 745,461, filed September 25, 1934, for Oscillator system, which is acontinuation in part of the instant application.

Although I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that my invention is not to be limited thereby, but may be modified in arrange- Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An electron tubedevice comprising a cathode,

a heater element, a formative anode, a plate assembly, said plate assembly comprising four elements, two of said elements of triangular shape and disposed in rectangular arrangement with separation along the diagonal of said rectangular arrangement, the other two of said elements of rectangular shape and disposed at the ends of said rectangular arrangement, said plates at the ends of said rectangular arrangement connected respectively to the triangular plate ofrless adjacent area, means comprising said formative anode for directing electrons emitted from said cathode toward said plate assembly, and control means for bending said electron stream.

2. An electron tube device comprising a cathode, a heater element, a formative anode, a diflerential plate anode assembly, said differential plate anode assembly comprising a multiplicity of elements disposed in the same plane and separated by a diagonally disposed gap, means comprising said formative anode for directing electrons emitted from said cathode towards said difierential plate anode assembly, and means for vertically bending said electron stream so as to cause diiferentially varying amounts of electrons to fall on said elements of said plate anode assembly as said stream is moved across said diii'erential plate anode assembly.

3. An electron tube device comprising a cathode, a heater element, a formative anode, a differential plate anode assembly, said difi'erential plate anode assembly comprising a pair of triangularly shaped elements separated by a diagonally disposed gap, means comprising said formative anode for directing electrons emitted from saidcathode towards said differential plate anode assembly, and means for bending said electron stream in such manner as to cause diiferentially varying amounts of electrons to fall-on said elements of said plate anode assembly as said stream is moved across said plate anode assembly.

4. An electron tube device comprising a cathode, a heater element, a formative anode, a plate assembly, said plate assembly comprising two elements of rectangular shape, one of said elements having substantially greater area than the other of said elements, said elements disposed adjacent each other with slight separation, said separation occurring substantially central on the axis of the tube, said plate assembly being disposed at the opposite end of the tube from said cathode, means for controlling the path of electrons emitted from said cathode in. such manner as to cause varying amounts of electrons to fall on said elements of said plate assembly as said relative sizes of said plate areas permitting greater stream is moved across said plate assembly, the

deflection of said electron stream in one direction.

5. An electron tube device comprising a cathode, a formative anode, and a diiferential plate anode assembly comprising a multiplicity of elements disposed in the same plane, a pair of said elements being triangular in shape and separated by a diagonally disposed gap, another pair of said elements constituting field equalizing means disposm respectively adjacent the elements of the first said pair, means comprising said formative anode for directing electrons emitted from said cathode towards said diiferential plate assembly, and means for deflecting said electron stream.

. 6. An electron-tube device including a source of electrons, a formative anode, and a diflferential plate anode assembly; said formative anode comprising a shield having a substantially rectangular aperture, and a substantially rectangular channel member aflixed to said shield opposite said aperture, and operating to form the electrons from said source into a fiat, narrow beam, directed centrally towards said differential plate anode assembly; said diiferential plate anode assembly comprising a multiplicity of elements disposed in the same plane; said'electron tube device including also means operative for bending said electron beam with respect to the central position thereof, whereby v y ng amounts of electrons fall on the elements of the plate anode assembly by virtue of the diiferentiai properties thereof.

WALTER. SOLLER. 

